Various businesses, including the Springs Taxi Association (STA), gathered for a meeting along 8th Street on 21 October to discuss safety and a clean-up of the area.

The meeting was held at the taxi association premises and was chaired by the STA’s disciplinary chairperson, Cornelius Mavumengwana, with a focus on how the businesses located along this street can work together to improve cleanliness and safety measures.

During the meeting, Mavumengwana said the aim of the clean-up project is to clean Springs one street at a time.

He added that they are starting at 8th Street because it is where the association is based and they want to maintain a good image.

“We involved other businesses because it would be pointless to have the association clean while our neighbours’ premises are not,” said Mavumengwana.

Mavumengwana emphasised that businesses should work together in keeping the town clean. Patrick Qibi, from Designer Water, said that he had to ask the gardener who cleans his business to also clean opposite his premises, which is where The Avenue parking lot is situated.

He also said that people would dump refuse bags outside and he would tell them to stop because it affects his business’s reputation.

“I had thought of relocating my business somewhere because of the uncleanliness of the area. Every Monday morning, we have to remove beer bottles that people leave outside throughout the weekend,” said Qibi.

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He added that he had to install cameras to monitor the property, as he resides in Benoni, and he also involved the CPF with the homeless people who sleep outside his business and leave items there.

Nayna Purshotam, who has a practice on the street, said that people used to dump underwear outside.

“We used to clean faeces outside the premises, but it would leave a terrible smell and our patients would ask us about it,” said Purshotam.

The meeting concluded with the businesses arranging for two gardeners to clean and maintain the street, who will be paid through monthly contributions from the businesses. They will also be approaching security companies to help with safety inspections for the area.